It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Rom Rosenblum, a true teammate, mentor and friend to so many of us at Clear-Com and all over the world. After battling a long illness, he passed away on January 5, 2022, surrounded by his family.
Rom joined Clear-Com as an Applications Engineer in January 2007, however during his tenure at the company he wore countless hats, always ready to help out with whatever was needed. He traveled the world programming and commissioning systems, teaching, training and entertaining everyone along the way. He was especially passionate about sharing his knowledge with others and would jump at the opportunity to lead a training session. His enthusiasm and expertise inspired people at all levels, from high school students to veteran engineers.
“The saying goes, ‘to know him is to love him,’ but with Rom it felt like, ‘to meet him is to love him’, comments Justin Emge, Manager of Applications Engineering for Clear-Com. “Rom was so unapologetically himself, that you felt as if you were getting to know all of who he was in every interaction, even if it was the first time you met him.”
After speaking with Rom for only a moment, you realized his casual demeanor and dress (almost exclusively Hawaiian shirts) belied his undeniable brilliance and passion. No task was too small or too large for Rom, as he was deeply motivated by a desire to help others succeed, no matter day or night.
A self-proclaimed, “child of the placid ’50s and tumultuous ’60s,” Rom was passionate about everything audio. Originally making his way in the music recording business as an engineer at Tritone Studios, Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and Chief Engineer at 9 West Studios in New Jersey, Rom went on to own SoundScape Studios in Oakland, CA. He worked extensively in Live TV broadcasting, especially in Sports Television audio as an A1 for every major sports league and event including World Cup, World Series, NBA Finals, Superbowl, and several Olympic Games.
Like Clear-Com itself, Rom also came from the world of live music – he was active as a gigging musician (usually piano & keyboards) at different periods of his life and was known for organizing internal jam sessions with other staff musicians. He was also a key part of the Clear-Com tradeshow team, making sure we were able to show off our products to the world. All said though, Rom was still a master at his core role of helping Clear-Com customers do incredible things and helping his colleagues understand those customers’ needs.
“Rom’s contribution to the business, both through his deep caring for our customers and his comradeship with his colleagues, cannot be overstated,” says Bob Boster, President. “On top of everything he did for us all, like many of the people he interacted with, I considered Rom a dear friend and will miss him dearly. As he taught me to say, may his memory be a comfort to us all.”
“Rom was an embodiment of the Clear-Com brand, and a part of his legacy will live on in everyone who was fortunate enough to cross paths with him. May he rest in peace,” said Clear-Com CEO, Mitzi Dominguez.
Rom is survived by his wife, Debby Graudenz, and his son, Avi Rosenblum.
You can share photos or memories of Rom, here.